Basketball fans from Macau, Hong Kong, the United States and elsewhere gathered at NBA House in Cotai Expo from Friday through yesterday, sharing their excitement about the NBA China Games 2026 and reflecting on the growth of basketball culture in the region.
NBA stands for the US’ National Basketball Association, aka the League.
For local resident Victor, 28, who attended last year’s event featuring the Phoenix Suns and Brooklyn Nets, this year’s atmosphere felt even bigger, with the Dallas Mavericks and Houston Rockets bringing their rivalry to the city.
“Man, last year with Devin Booker and the Suns coming in was already crazy, but this year feels even bigger,” he told the Post.
Victor, who supports former Mavericks player Luka Dončić, said that hosting NBA events in two consecutive years was helping Macau establish itself as a basketball destination. He also observed more young people wearing NBA jerseys at local courts.
Another returning fan, local resident Chloe, 24, said her older brother first introduced her to basketball. At NBA House, she particularly enjoyed seeing the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy up close.
“100 percent. Seeing local high school kids walking around in custom fan gear today proves it,” Chloe said when asked whether hosting NBA events could inspire younger generations, adding that “when you bring world-class athletes into our backyard, kids realise that basketball isn’t just something far away on TV – it’s something they can reach.”
For first-time attendee Ricardo, 21, a local university student, the NBA’s presence in Macau was a memorable experience. He said that seeing the league’s branding throughout the venue made him do a double-take, while a three-point arcade challenge at NBA House gave him a taste of the excitement of competition.
Among overseas visitors, US tourist Marcus, 32, travelled to Macau while on a business trip in Asia after learning that the Rockets and Mavericks would play here. He contrasted the crowd’s enthusiasm with his experience of games in the US.
“In the US, people get up for beer runs during the third quarter, but here, everyone is glued to their seats screaming for every single crossover,” Marcus said.
Meanwhile, 29-year-old Sarah, who is a US expatriate living in Shanghai, also attended for the first time. She praised the convenience of having team activities, NBA House and the games concentrated around Cotai, while highlighting the impact of player interactions with young fans.
“The standout moment was seeing Macau kids in the clinics getting high-fives and tips from NBA players – the energy in the room was electric,” she said.
Moreover, Hong Kong visitor Lam, 26, said that travelling to Macau for the NBA days was an easy choice, taking the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge bus to Cotai. Lam said he believes the event could benefit basketball across the Greater Bay Area (GBA), bringing fans from Hong Kong and mainland cities together to celebrate the sport.
From long-time supporters revisiting the event to first-time visitors experiencing the NBA in person, fans said the games and NBA House offered more than entertainment, bringing international basketball closer to local communities and potentially inspiring a new generation of players.
A fan at NBA House takes on a dribbling challenge yesterday. – Photo: Rui Pastorin
